Chronicle of Florence of Worcester, 1118.

CHRONICLE OF FLORENCE OF WORCESTER.

A.D., 1118.

A.D.1083.THIS same king
Egbert was the eighth among the kings of the English nation
who ruled over all their southern provinces, separated by
the river Humber and neighbouring boundaries from those
which lie to the north. The first who held this dominion was
Ella, king of the East Saxons ; the second Celin, king of
the West Saxons, called in their tongue " Ceaulin ;" the
third was Ethelbert, king of Kent ; the fourth was Redwald,
king of the East Angles, who held the government of that
nation as chief,* even in Ethelberts lifetime ; the
fifth was Edwin, king of the Northumbrian nation, that is,
those who dwelt to the north of the river Humber, the most
poweiful of all who inhabited Britain. His rule extended
alike over the people, both English and Britons, with the
exception of Kent; and he subjected to the dominion of the
English the Mevanian islands, which are situated between
Ireland and England. The sixth monarch of all England, he
himself being the most christian king of Northumbria, was
Oswald. The seventh was Oswy, who for a time maintained his
supremacy within nearly the same limits, and to a very great
extent subjugated the Picts and Scots who inhabited the
northern extremities of Britain, making them tributaries.
The eighth, as we have already stated, was King Egbert. In
his time, as it is reported, St.. Swithin was born, who,
sprung from a noble line of ancestors, when his youthful
years were passed, was admitted to holy orders by St.
Helmstan, bishop of Winchester. King Egbert also committed
his son Ethelwulf to his care for instruction in sacred
learning.

A.D. 1094.In addition to this, first the people of
North Wales, and then those of West and South Wales, threw
off the yoke of subjection under which they had long
suffered, and, rallying their courage, struggled to obtain
their independence. Assembling in great numbers, they raised
the castles which had been erected in West Wales, and making
frequent eruptions into the counties of Chester, Shrewsbury,
and Hereford, set fire to and plundered the homesteads, and
killed many of the English and Normans. They also demolished
the castle in the Isle of Man, and reduced the island under
their power. Meanwhile the Scots perfidiously murdered their
king Duncan, and some others, at the instigation of Donald,
who was again raised to the throne After this King William
returned to England, on the fourth of the calends of
January, [29th Dec.], and leading an army into Wales
to subdue the Welsh, lost there many men and horses.

A.D. 1098.Meanwhile Hugh, earl of Chester, and
Hugh, earl of Shrewsbury, led troops into the island
Mevania, which is usually called Anglesey, and massacred
many of the Welsh whom they took there, cutting off the
hands or feet of some, and emasculating others. They also
dragged from his church a priest named Kenred ; from whom
the Welsh received counsel on their undertakings ; him they
emasculated, plucked out one eye, and cut out his tongue,
but on the third day, through divine pity, his speech was
restored. At that time Magnus, King of Norway, son of King
Olaf, who was son of King Harold Harfaagar, having added the
Orkney and Mevanian islands to his dominions, sailed there
with a small fleet. But when he attempted to bring his ships
to land, Hugh, earl of Shrewsbury, met him with a large body
of men at arms on the strand of the sea shore, and as it is
reported, fell by an arrow discharged by the kings own
hand, on the seventh day after he had treated the priest
just mentioned with such barbarity.